Mahan Of The Day :- Jay Jalaram Bapa

Jay Jalaram Bapa

Shree Jalaram Bapa was born in Samvant 1856 (A.D. 1800). His mother's name was Rajbai and father's name was Pradhan Thakkar. Pradhan Thakkar and Valji Thakkar were two brothers actively and honestly engaged in business earning their livelihood.

It is said that Rajbai, wife of Pradhan Thakkar was religous lady who was very inclined to serve sadhus' and sants'. A mother of three sons and three daughter's, she was content in her family life and used to find free time to do her religous duties to sadhus' and sants'. She was once a host to Sant Raghuveerdasji who was very impressed with her selfless services and had blessed her - his blessings were that her second son would be instrumental in enhancing the services that she was doing - he would be famous all over in advocating pious life, duty full of devotion and act of good deeds. This second son was none other than our Shree Jalaram Bapa.

There was a remarkable incident in early life of this saint person : when he was a child, a saint came to the house and requested to see Jalram; when they came face to face with each other - Jalaram at once greeted the saint with respectful "Namaskar" and it appeared that Jalaram had recollected his previous life, he realised who he was, he was reminded of his goal in life - it is argued that this visiting saint was probably a heavenly messenger - from that day onwards the young Jalaram never stopped chanting "Sita Ram" and he began to live life in a different way.

At a young age of 14 Jalaram's marraige was arranged with Virbai, a daughter of Thakkar Pragji Somaija. Jalaram was not in favour of marraige, but his duties towards his parents forced him to accept this arranged marraige. He got married when he was 16 years of age.

Jalaram's love towards sadhus' and sants' grew day by day and he would go to any extent to entertain sadhus and sants. This was not acceptable to his father. Jalaram's deep involvement with sadhus' and sants' led to his seperation from his father's business. He had decided to go his way. He worked for his uncle for some time. Uncle Valjibhai was very fond of Jalaram, but even that love and fondness would not deter Jalaram's desire to serve sadhus' and sants'. If at all anything it made more determined to devote himself fully to the service of sadhus' and sants' and the needy. He was fully aware that such devotion would mean complete withdrawal from marital life, a life free from family ties and circles. His inclination was to go on that path faster and with approval of his parents and uncle Valjibhai, he set out on a holy pilgrimage of holy places. He was fortunate that Virbaima was keen to follow her husband Jalaram. To her, Jalaram's work was her work, Jalaram's wishes were her wishes and all that Jalaram decided to do she was but prepared to do that. She was following Jalaram in every respect.

At the age of 18 he accepted Bhojalram as his Guru and with Gurus' blessings, he started "Sadavrat" a feeding centre, a place where all sadhus' and sants' and the needy can go and expect to be fed 24 hours a day. Both Jalaram Bapa and Virbaima started working for this holy place. Jalaram's strong belief was that "This was the Lord's order - This was Lord's work - I am not doing anything for anybody - Lord has asked me to do this work - since it is Lord's work HE looks after it and ensures that it functions". Actually that did happen - indeed the place functioned well. Nobody ever returned from that place without being fed. One can question whether this can possibly be done by a single person - Yes. We argue and debate and yet probably would not come to a sensible answer - but then to do what Jalaram did one has to be a person of Jalaram's determination, his patience, his love towards others.

He was 20 years when his saintliness acquired a great fame. There are stories of how he was put to tests for his qualities of patience, endurence, love towards others, his steadfastness of thinking - he did not change under any pressure - he came out of all those tests successfully. His fame spread and he was regarded and accepted as a saint. People started worshipping him. They came to him for guidance in difficulties, for blessings in real distress and discomfort. It is said that once he was called out to see an ailing child struct with serious disease. Parents of this child believed that the cure was solely due to Jalaram Bapa's blessings - Jala was since called Allah. In another instance a person who was threatened to be imprisoned went to Jalaram for his blessings. This man was not only saved from such imprisonment but he decided to lead a normal honest life then onwards. Jalaram was then onwards addressed as Bapa - Father of all. There are numerous such instances that can be quoted from his books but fact is that his feeding place was open and is still open today in Virpur where people go and are fed. People go to Jalaram Bapa's places for prayers to him and seek his blessings for their personal griefs, shortcomings and failures and many acquire relief and satisfaction.

Human beings during their span of life always aspire to be rich and acquire wealth - they pray for complete family life - it is such saint as Jalaram Bapa who remain away from such desire and wants. In their lives they always give - even when they are gone they still give to those who ask from them with purity of heart and sincerity of purpose.

In 1934 during terrible famine Jalaram Bapa worked very hard to feed those who were suffering. In 1935 Virbaima died and 1937 Jalaram Bapa died while in prayers.

Such is the story of the life of this Great Saint of Virpur.

In human life, a saint meets one in two ways :-
1. Through his good deeds.
2. Through the will of Almighty God.

If a person meets a true and genuine saint, he transforms himself to a loving person and tears of joy will roll down his face for such a saint.
When Bapa was in his tender years, a saint visited him and blessed him that when he grows up, He (Bapa) will become a great saint and the holy man's words cannot go wrong and exactly the same happened as destined in Bapa's life.
All this has been explained in the holy script of our ancient Ved Purana.




Jala's father had fear that Jala Bapa would become a saint, hence he called upon his younger brother to look for a suitable bride and found one in Aathkot town. She was the daughter of Shri Pragjibhai Thakher by name Virbai who was only sixteen years old.
By blessings of the God, even Virbai was humble and polite by nature, a right choice for Jala Bapa.
Virbai performed her duties whole heartedly in serving her husband viz, Jala Bapa. Because of her, Jala Bapa's work was accomplished.
The way Jala Bapa performed and discharged his duties, sets an example for everyone to follow with utmost holiness in mind.
Out of the actual four duties, there is no religious duty like that of discharging day to day work in the most sincere way. If these are done with entire soul, even the God himself can come to our home.



Virpur town is situated between Junagadh and Dwarka. Since there used to be lot of followers travelling between these two towns, they used to halt at Virpur, this also being Jala Bapa's home town.
Jala Bapa's father was a middle class man owning a ration shop, which was run by Jala Bapa. Any saint who would be invited to visit Bapa would be given any items free of charge. Bapa gained peace by doing this.
Once a neighbouring shopkeeper reported this incidence to Jala Bapa's uncle Valjibhai, who scolded Bapa and went to the saints to get back those items given out by Bapa.
Jala Bapa in turn prayed to Shree Ram, who replaced those items with something more likable. Similarly the stock of shop also remained as earlier.
This shows that one taking God's name is always helped and his work is made simpler. However, this should be all done without malice.
After this rare incident Jala Bapa was worshipped and elevated to the status of Almighty. 

Without a Guru (teacher) and his blessings, a person cannot gain necessary knowledge, or improve his life-style. Furthermore the Guru shows a true path, which leads to the ultimate - the salvation.
Similarly, Jala Bapa even accepted a Guru by the name Shree Bhojalram from Fatehpur and was given a "Guru Malaa And Mantra" in the name of Shree Ram, which was duly accepted.
By the grace of Guru, Jala Bapa's work proved to be fruitful and was accepted as a true spiritual leader who was merciful and taken by the people as incarnation of the God.
This is the real sense of having a Guru.



There is a saying in Gujrati that "to achieve heaven, one has to die". Any work done cannot be successful without faith and honesty and one can be successful if this principal is adopted in one's own life.
All that Shree Jalaram Bapa had done in his entire life, was to feed the needy and gain the blessings of the Almighty. Bapa fed the hungry people and explained the meaning of the donation.
Without any malice, boastfulness or any help from anyone, he himself worked hard on his farm and gained the required wealth and food which he donated to all and attained total bliss.
Virbai supported Bapa's work and showed the charm of it and further proved that behind every successful man there is a woman.



At the age of 21 Jala Bapa had become famous and had lots of responsibilities. With these responsibilities, there is always a lot of worries and tension, but Bapa had left all this at God's disposal for guidance.
Once upon a time, in the village, there lived a tailor by the name of Harji. Harji had some stomach aches for which he had various ailments which were futile. Upon other villager's suggestions, they requested Harji to vow in the name of Jala Bapa, that should his health improve, he would donate food. To his surprise his sickness disappeared within eight days. He fulfilled his wish and Jala Bapa's fame had grown further, but Bapa had never taken that to be his wonderful work. But in turn, he said, it was just ordinary work and that he was just trying to help the needy.
This reflects a true picture of a Saint. 

 

 

Without knowing inner voice of the soul, our birth is incomplete and this can be felt. If we chant the name of the God and turn our vision, we will have certain targets, which will make us become pure and free from sins. By doing this only, a person attains the highest God's salvation. This happened in Jala Bapa's life.
God, himself appeared in the form of a saint and begged for Virbai from Jala Bapa in form of alms. He asked for the most unusual thing and Virbai was given to the saint by Jala Bapa, to carry out the daily chores. By offering this, the saint in return gave Virbai "Jholi" and "Dand", which is even present as of today.
This once again concludes that any prayer or deeds done with whole-heartedness is always beneficial. So let us join Bapa and achieve this also, at earliest opportunity.



The most praised relationship is that of a Teacher and a student. The student has to serve the Teacher with lots of devotion which is a very important task. In turn the teacher has to help the student to free himself from this materialistic world and further protect him also from all evil.
Near Amreli, there is a town called Fatehpur, a place where Bapa's Guru viz. Bhojalram resided. Bapa used to frequently visit him. He used to walk his way to and fro to Fatehpur in order to have his desired blessings.
When two saints meet, they discuss a lot in common and would not realise how time has lapsed, without feeling tired and sleepy. This is a true love for each other.



In Rajkot, there were two sisters by the name Ranbai and Rulbai, who used to carry out the noble work of serving the saints. This noble work by the sisters had come to the knowledge of Bapa, who decided to pay a visit to these two sisters.
At the same time, "Lala Bhagat", from Saila town had also come. Both were welcomed by the sisters and all of them chanted religious songs (Bhajans).
In the morning both sisters took the cows to the fields to graze and had intended to come back early, in order to grind the cereals. Bapa realised this and in turn decided that he would assist the two sisters in grinding the cereals, since both would be tired after the day's hard work.
Jala Bapa-chanting God's name completed the grinding work and when the sisters returned and noticed this, they fell at Bapa's feet, saying that only a highly respected saint can do this work, without any pride. This shows that for a saint, any work can be done without any financial gains in the mind. 

 

In having true devotion and faith, there is a powerful vision that anything is possible. Such a case is that of Govind, son of Karo Reeyani, who became his disciple and in turn Jala Bapa prayed to Shree Ram to protect his only disciple.
Years passed by and one day as everyone has to leave this earth, it happened that Govind was taken of ill health and gave up his life. Entire village had gathered to pay their last respects, even Jala Bapa had come and requested to be shown the face of the deceased. He sprinkled some sacred water on his face and to everyone's surprise Govind became alive.
This is a case that proves that Shree Jala Bapa who in humanly form had been bestowed special powers from none other than Shree Ram.



During the course of Respected Shree Jala Bapa's life, it had occurred that in the year 1901, in Jamnagar, a person by the name of Jamshree Ramanji, in his house had invited all saints, including Jala Bapa, to chant and praise the name of the Gods.
The host, Jamshree, had desired to give cloth to all those who attended the ceremony. It happened that the qunatity of cloth fell short for distribution. Jamshree was perplexed and thought of Jala Bapa. He requested the work of distribution of the cloth to be carried out by Jala Bapa.
Jala Bapa continued giving cloth and to everyone's surprise, each and everyone got their cloth. It was just like a coincidence of a beautiful occurrence during Draupadi times, when Shree Krishna had helped her. So was the case in Jala Bapa's life.
In our lifetime, should we hand over ourselves to the Almighty, he in turn, never let's us down. 

 

First Recognition

There was one significant and miraculous event, which took place, when Jalaram was still a child. An old saint came from Ayodhya. He was on his way to the holy Girnar. He called at Pradhan Thakkar's house and asked Rajabai to bring to him and show him Jalaram, their second child. Even as he was telling this, the child Jalaram came there, leaving his toys with his friends and fell prostrate at the feet of old sanyasi. The latter asked Jalaram, "Do you not recognize me, my son?" As the saint said this, in Jalaram's mental vision, the memory of the whole life of his previous birth flashed itself. His eyes beamed with an expression of recognition of the old saint. He fell at the saint's feet. After the prostration, by the time he raised himself the old saint was gone. But the link had been forged with his previous life, and the chant of 'Ram Nam', which he used to do without any intermission in his previous life, caught up and started on again as unceasingly as his breath.

 

 

 The First Miracle

Virpur is on the way to Girnar, the holy pilgrimage centre, and all pilgrims and sadhus used to make a halt at Virpur for their food and rest. They used to ask for foodgrains at the shops in the village and used to cook their food. One day it is so happened, all the other shops were closed. Valaji' shop alone was open. Hence all the sadhus and mendicants called at Valaji's shop for alms. Jalaram was so delighted to see so many sadhus come to him. He doled out to them dal, rice, flour, ghee, sugar oil and many other items, which ever they asked for, as charity. Further when he saw some of the sadhus in torn clothes, he gave away new cloth also from the shop.

Some of the people of the village who were jealous and envious of Jalaram because of his uncle's fondness for him, went and complained to Valaji who become very furious on Jalaram. He came threateningly to the shop. He said he wanted a complete check to be made in the shop of all the things and materials. Jalaram felt frightened and started praying to God to save him from his uncle's wrath. As the uncle went on checking, every bag was full with the contents, there was no shortage of the cloth even. The uncle was amazed, and instead of taking Jalaram to task, complimented him profusely.

How did the above miracle happen? Only because whatever Jalaram did, he used to say within himself "Iswararpanam". And is it not the duty of the God to protect on who has surrendered himself unto him, and 

who saw in all but God alone !

' JALLA SO ALLAH ", " JALARAM IS GOD "

There lived a rich muslim named Jamal in Virpur. Once his ten years old son was ill. Inspite of all treatment his temperature did not come down. The doctors gave up hope his recovery. The tailor Harji told Jamal about his own experience , " Jamal, a pellet bow can send a pellet upto three hundred yards, a gun can send a bullet upto a thousand, a tank can send a ball upto ten thousand but the Jalaram Bapa's morsel of food given to the sadhus has its reach upto the door of the heaven . Therefore, take a vow in jalaram Bapa's name and that will surely save your son from death.

" Jamal caught the suggestion and said, " O bapa, relieve my son of the disease. I'll give forty meaasures of grains to your charity house ."

It so happened that his son's temperature got down that very night , he opened his eyes, and was saved.

Jamal took a cart load of grains to Jala Bapa, paid obeisance to him and said " Jalla so Allah !"( Jalaram is God ). One who fails to receive something from god can receive it from Jalaram!"

Henceforth Jala Bapa became popularly known as " Jalla so Allah" ( Jalaram is God ). He was twenty two at that time ( Vikram era 1878 ) 

 

DEAD BIRDS COME ALIVE !!!

There were three Arabs in the service of the Thakore of Rajkot. They demanded an increase in wages by four rupees a month. The Thakore refused. So they resigned and started for Junagadh. On their way they hunted a few birds, and put them in the bag they carried on their shoulders.

They were passing through Virpur in the evening when Jalaram Bapa saw them. He said, "Please have your meals here and then go."

The Arabs said, "We are Muslims!"

Bapa said, "there is no distinction of caste or creed in the court of god. You are welcome here!"

Led by Bapa, the Arabs came to his place. Now they rememberd that they had the dead birds with them and here was a hindu temple.What to Do ?

As soon as the meals were finished they tried to go away silently , but Bapa said , " You must have been tired ! Have a night halt here!"

The Arabs felt most embarrassed. Bapa then touched their bag with his staff and said , Ah ! The poor birds feel suffocated make them free."

The Arabs saw that the bag hanging on a peg had live birds in it . They opened the bag and the birds flew away to the tree nearby . The Arabs were amazed . They fell at the feet of Bapa and asked , "Bapa,shall we get a job in Junagadh ?"

Bapa said , why , the Arabs serve only one master ." The Arabs said, " But the Thakore of Rajkot is not willing to pay us adequately."

Bapa said , he will . You asked for four rupees more , but he will give you seven ."

It really happened so. Just at that time, a camel-man ,sent by the Thakore of Rajkot arrived there and took the Arabs back with honour. The Thakore had sanctioned an increase of seven seven rupeesin their salary. 

 

A LOST NOSE RING FOUND FROM A COCONUT

The daughter -in-law of a farmer in Virpur went to a village named Roopavathi in a marriage party . She wore a nose ring with a precious red pearl set in it . While enjoying the wedding festivities she lost it somewhere, and did not find it . she took a vow of offering a coconut in Bapa's temple before going home .

The marriage party returned to Virpur. The daughter-in-law went straight to Bapa's ashram with a coconut .Seeing her weeping Bapa said , " Come on , my child, Let me break the coconut before God ."

Saying this he took the coconut and broke it before the idol of Rama . A miracle happened . The nose -ring came out of the broken coconut !

Bapa said , " Oh, how mischievous my Rama is !"

The daughter-in-law was simply mad with joy. She went home with nose ring . 

 

THE BABUL TREE

There lived a peasant family in kevadara village near Keshod . The head of the family was Nanji Ladani.

One day all the members of the family were relaxing under the babul tree at noon after hard work in the field. Suddenly there was a whrilwind and the tree was uprooted . In a split second it would fall on them and there was no time for escape . All were frightened. Suddenly Nanji cried out, " O save me , Jaliya Bapa ."

No sooner did he speak these words then the tree stopped falling down as if some one had lifted it above them and gradually every one safely slipped from beneaath it.

After a few days Nanji came to Virpur and told Bapa of this incident . Bapa smiled and said, " Look here! See what has happened to my back and remove if there's any babul thorn still inside the body !"

Nanji saw that there were marks of the thorns on Bapa's back.